Apparatus for the cleaning of conduits and containers and method of operating same

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the cleaning of the internal surfaces of receptacles of substantially any configuration and type comprises a head rotatable about the axis of an inlet conduit for the cleaning fluid and carries at least one rotatable nozzle arrangement having tangentially oriented nozzles communicating via the head with the conduit for rotation of the nozzle member upon ejection of the cleaning fluid through the nozzles thereof. A hydraulic motor is coupled with the head for rotating the same about the conduit axis and relatively thereto, the motor being driven at an adjustable rate by fluid delivered by a hydraulic pump coupled with the nozzle box and driven thereby.

United States Patent 1 Heinrich et al.

[ Jan. 16, 1973 [75] Inventors: Willy Heinrich, Rheinkamp- Repelen;Ludwig Strom, Rheinhausen, both of Germany [73] Assignee:Woma-Apparatebau Wolfgang Maasberg & Co. GmbI-l, Rheinhausen, Germany 22Filed: Sept. 14, 1970 21 App]. No.: 71,959

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,416,732Reiter ..239/227 6/1966 Saad ..23 /227 8/1969 Kennedy,.lr.etal ..239/2276/1971 Bonfield ..239/227 Primary ExaminerLloyd L. King Attorney-Karl F.Ross [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for the cleaning of the internalsurfaces of receptacles of substantially any configuration and typecomprises a head rotatable about the axis of an inlet conduit for thecleaning fluid and carries at least one rotatable nozzle arrangementhaving tangentially oriented nozzles communicating via the head with theconduit for rotation of the nozzle member upon ejection of the cleaningfluid through the nozzles thereof. A hydraulic motor is coupled with thehead for rotating the same about the conduit axis and relativelythereto, the motor being driven at an adjustable rate by fluid deliveredby a hydraulic pump coupled with the nozzle box and driven thereby.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAII 16 ms SHEET 1 OF 2 11mm! 1| mmW/LLI HEINRICH LUDWIG STPOM INVENTORS.

: l To FIG.|

ATTORNEY PATENTEU JAN 1 6 B75 SHEET 2 or 2 FROM RESERVOIR l6 WILL/'HE/NRICH LUDW/G STPOM INVENTORS ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR THE CLEANING OFCONDUITS AND CONTAINERS AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME FIELD OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for the cleaningof conduits and containers of substantially all configurations, sizesand types and, more particularly, to an apparatus having a rotatablenozzle head through which a cleaning fluid is ejected to subject thecontainers of surface cleaning, as well as to a method of operating sucha device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the cleaning of conduits and containers,using a cleaning fluid (e.g. water) ejected at high pressure from anozzle arrangement, numerous systems have been proposed to provideadequate coverage of the surface of the container by the jet emergingfrom the nozzle arrangement. Such systems generally includepiston-andcylinder arrangements for reciprocating the nozzle head,motors for rotating same and devices for advancing the nozzle head withrespect to the container, thereby spreading the stream of cleaningliquid emerging from the nozzle system.

Substantially all of these arrangements are highly complex, usereciprocating valves, piston or cylinder arrangements and the like whichare prone to break down and are expensive, and are of inordinately largesize so as to render their use impractical. These disadvantages apply tosystems in which the nozzle head is rotatable about an axis defined byan inlet conduit in a plane perpendicular to the latter, to arrangementsin which reciprocable motion is generated by fluidoperated cylinders,either directly or through the operation of reciprocating valves, and tosystems in which the nozzle head is mounted upon a rotatable housing sothat the head itself is carried about an axis parallel to an inletconduit or coinciding with the axis thereof, while the head is, in turn,rotated about an axis perpendicular to the main or housing axis. Thelatter system operates with a complex transmission between the rotatinghousing and the nozzle head, thereby rendering it difficult if notimpossible to adjust the transmission ratio. Furthermore, the lack ofadjustability in the latter system renders the arrangement suitable onlyfor the strip-wise cleaning of tanks and conduits and eliminates thepossibility that the device may be used for the surface cleaning oftanks of all configurations and sizes.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, the principal object of thepresent invention to provide an improved apparatus or device forcleaning conduits or tanks with a cleaning fluid which is directed atelevated pressure against the wall thereof.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide an apparatus ordevice of the character described which has a rotating nozzle carrier orhousing defining a first axis of rotation which may coincide with thatof the cleaning-fluid inlet and a nozzle head mounted upon this housingfor rotation about an axis perpendicular or orthogonal to that of thehousing and which permits simple adjustment of the ratio of rotationbetween the nozzle head and the housing carrying same.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved device ofthe character described which is of simple and compact construction,which affords ease of control, which is inexpensive to maintain andconstruct, and which provides superior cleaning by comparison withearlier rotating-nozzle arrangements.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a method ofoperating a rotating-nozzle tank, container or conduit cleaner whichobviates the aforementioned disadvantages and provides improvedsurface-type cleaning of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects and others which will becomeapparent hereinafter are attained, in accordance with the presentinvention, in an apparatus or device for the cleaning of containers,tanks and conduits of substantially all configurations, sizes and types,which comprises an inlet conduit for delivering the cleaning fluid tothe device, a head rotatable relative to this conduit about a first axiswhich may be parallel to or coincide with the axis of the conduit andcoincide with the axis of the head, and a nozzle assembly communicatingwith the conduit through the head and rotatably mounted thereon forrotation about a second axis substantially perpendicular or orthogonalto the axis of rotation of I the head.

The rotation axes preferably are coplanar, according to the presentinvention, and the nozzle assembly is driven by reaction force, i.e. bythe reaction forces produced upon ejection of high pressure jets of thecleaning fluid. To this end, the nozzle assembly may have one or moretangentially oriented nozzles and is rotated in a sense opposite to thedirection of flow of the liquid from the nozzle.

According to the principles of the present invention, the nozzleassembly is coupled with the head to drive the latter via a hydraulictransmission including at least one mechanically driven pump whosehydraulic outflow is supplied to a hydraulic motor coupled with the headfor rotating same.

More particularly, the mechanical input of the hydraulic pump is therotating nozzle assembly and a first transmission means operativelyconnects this assembly with the input member of the hydraulic pump. Thisfirst transmission means is preferably a gear drive, but may be a chain,belt or like transmission. Furthermore, a second mechanical transmissioncouples the output member of the hydraulic motor with the head of thedevice for rotating same upon hydraulic pressuriza tion of the motor, aduct network being provided between the hydraulic pump and motor todrive the latter. This network may include valve means for varying thethroughflow of fluid to the hydraulic motor and, therefore, the rate ofoperation of the latter relative to the operating rate of the pump,thereby establishing a variable transmission ratio between the angularvelocity of the nozzle assembly and the angular velocity of the head.

According to an essential feature of this invention, the method ofoperating a rotating nozzle arrangement for the cleaning of containers,therefore, comprises the step of ejecting the cleaning fluid from arotating nozzle assembly and thereby driving the latter by reactionforce, displacing a hydraulic fluid, e.g. the cleaning liquid or anotherliquid medium, at a rate controlled by the rate of rotation of thenozzle assembly, and rotating the head carrying the nozzle assemblyabout its axis at a rate. controlled by the fluid displacement generatedby the rotating nozzle assembly.

In structural terms, the system includes an inlet conduit, asubstantially cylindrical housing mounted upon this conduit and formedwith an axially extending passage communicating therewith and with atleast one branch extending orthogonally to this passage, preferablyalong the axis of rotation of a nozzle assembly communicating with thisbranch and provided with a plurality of outwardly extending pipescarrying the respective nozzles, the nozzles being oriented tangentiallyto drive the nozzle assembly by the reaction force produced uponemergence of the jet from the nozzle.

The housing carries the hydraulic pump which is mechanically coupledwith the nozzle assembly to be rotated thereby. Similarly, the housingmay carry the hydraulic'motor which is connected with the pump via ductmeans rotatable with the housing, the output member of the motor beingoperatively connected with the conduit via a transmission as notedearlier. Hence, the output of the hydraulic pump is a function of theangular velocity of the rotating nozzle assembly while the rotationalspeedof the housing is a function of the rate at which hydraulic fluidis supplied to the latter via the pump. Since a valve is provided in theduct means, the through-put to the motor may be adjusted readily andhence the ratio of the angular velocity of the housing and the angularvelocity of the nozzle assembly may be established with substantiallyinfinite control at any rate desired for the particular cleaning task.Bothfluid pump and fluid motor are carried by the housing and rotatedtogether therewith. The overall rotation rates are determined,therefore, by the rate at which fluid is ejected from the nozzleassembly.

The invention is based upon the surprising discovery that the strip-likecleaning of containers, tanks and the like as practiced by the devicesknown heretofore can be replaced by a genuine surface cleaning of thetank when the constant ratio of angular velocity of the nozzle assemblyand the housing (characteristic of the prior art) is replaced bycontinuous control of the rotation ratio and, moreover, the control ofthe rate of rotation is made substantially independently. The latter isaccomplished by determining empirically the optimum rate of rotation ofthe nozzle assembly and of the housing and establishing the transmissionratio between the two necessary to yield the appropriate housingrotation rate with the necessary velocity of the nozzle assembly. Thecleaning fluid is then supplied to the latter at the rate necessary toobtain this optimum speed, whereupon the housing is driven at itsoptimum speed. The control of the hydraulic transmission between thenozzle assembly and the housing permits substantially any desired speedto be obtained with both the housing and the nozzle assembly, merely byadjusting the throughput of the fluid passed from the pump to the motor.

According to a more specific feature of the invention, the fluid pump isdriven by a mechanical transmission from the nozzle assembly and ismounted upon the rotating housing while the fluid motor is carried bythehousing and has its output shaft mechanically linked with an angularlyfixed member, e.g. the conduit mentioned earlier. While these mechanicaltransmissions have fixed ratios, this is not significant since theimportant ratio is determined by the fluid flow between the pump andmotor as noted earlier.

While the valve means for adjusting the fluid flow to the hydraulicmotor may be a throttle-type valve, it has been found to be advantageousto associate the fluid pump and fluid motor with a reservoir which maybe carried by the housing and to use a three-way valve for bypassing orshunting fluid from the pump to the reservoir when the flow of fluid tothe hydraulic motor is to be reduced. This system has the additionaladvantage that the pressure delivered by the pump and applied to themotor can be adjusted within a wide range to provide the desired degreeof torque at the motor. Another advantage has been discovered to residein the system described above, namely the fact that the velocity ofrotation varies repeatedly as a consequence of the hydraulic slippageand the indirect forced transmission between the hydraulic pump and thehydraulic motor. The rotary movement is, therefore, augmented byoscillation which has been found to be important to a thorough cleaningof large surface in containers and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION In the drawing, there isillustrated an apparatus for the cleaning of the internal surfaces ofreceptacles and containers of substantially any type, the apparatuscomprising a rotatable head or housing I mounted upon an angularly fixedconduit 4 serving to connect the apparatus to a source of cleaningliquid at high pressures. The fitting 4 has an internal cavity 4a whichcommunicates with that of a tube 11, the latter forming a bearingrotatably supporting the head 1. The internal passage 11a of the tube 11is provided with a pair of radial ports 11b (one of which is seenin FIG.2) which communicate with an annular gap 30 formed by an axially openrecess 31 provided in the housing 1 which has, as illustrated, agenerally cylindrical configuration. The mouth of this cavity and thetube 11 are closed by a plug 32 which prevents the escape ofhigh-pressure fluid. A pair of seals of the O-ring and gland type areprovided at 33 and 34, to surround the tube 11 at axially opposite sidesof the ports 1 lb.

The annular chamber 30 communicates with a pair of radial passages 35and 36 formed in a housing or head 1 and aligned along an axis 5 whichis orthogonal or perpendicular to the axis of rotation 6 of the head.The term radial as used with respect to the passages 35 is to beunderstood as referring to the relationship between these passages andpassage 11a and axis 6.

The passages 35 and 36, of course, are axially aligned, while lying atright angles to the axis 6. The axes 5 and 6 may be coplanar as will beapparent from FIG. 2, the common plane being the plane of the paper.

The rotatable head 1 is also formed with a pair of tubular bosses 37 and38 extending in opposite directions along the axis 5 and hence coaxiallysurrounding the passages 35 and 36, the bosses having shoulders asrepresented at 39. At their extremities remote from the central portionof the housing or rotatable head 1, the bosses 37 and 38 are providedwith a pair of diametrically opposite ports 40 and 41 (FIG. 2)communicating with the respective passage 35 or 36 and opening into anannular space 42 defined around the respective boss 37 or 38 by a hub 43rotatably mounted thereon. Each hub forms part of a rotatable nozzlecarrier or head, generally designated at 2, which is rotatable about theaxis 5 and carries a pair of radially outwardly extending pipes 44 and45 welded to the hubs and rotatable therewith in planes P and P whichare perpendicular to the axis 5 but parallel to one another and to theaxis 6.

In the embodiment illustrated, two such nozzle assemblies 2 are providedupon the head 1, it being noted that the system may accommodate anynumber of such assemblies, the head 1 being formed with a correspondingboss 37 or 38 upon which the assembly isjournaled to prevent escape offluid in the region of the hub a pair of seals 46 and 47 are disposedwithin the chamber 42, circumferentially surrounded at boss 37 or 38,and axially flank the ports 40 and 41 while sealingly engaging thecylindrical inner surface of the hub 43 and permitting free rotation ofthe latter while confining the ,high pressure liquid. While only twonozzles are shown to be mounted on each hub, it will be appreciated thatany number of angularly equispaced nozzles can be used. Each of thepipes 44, 45 of the respective nozzle 3 communicates via a radialaperture 49, 50 in the hub with the annular compartment 42 and hencereceives the cleaning fluid at high pressure.

At their outer ends, the pipes 44, 45 are bent substantially at rightangles at 51 and 52, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in opposite directionswith respect to the plane P" defined by the axes 5 and 6. The nozzles 3,formed at these bent extremities of the pipes, are of frustoconicalconfiguration to increase the velocity of the jets ejected therefrom. Ithas been found to be advantageous to orient the corresponding nozzles ofthe assemblies in opposite senses to that the assemblies are rotated inopposite senses as well. To facilitate the movement of the apparatus inthe container, the nozzles 3 are formed with cylindrical outerperipheries 53 projecting beyond the remainder of the head 1 and theapparatus carried thereby, thereby limiting the possibility of damage tothe head structure (see FIG. 2).

It will be apparent that the head 2 shown in elevation in FIG. 1 ejectscleaning-water jets in the direction of arrows A and B, i.e.tangentially with respect to the orbit of the nozzles and through thereaction force will drive the nozzles angularly about the axis 5 in theclockwise sense (arrow C).

According to the principles of the present invention, the or each nozzleassembly 2 is fixed, e.g. by bolts 54 to a gear 14 which is rotatabletogether therewith about the axis 5 upon the rotatable head 1. The gears14 form, with gears 15, fixed-ratio mechanical transmission drivingrespective hydraulic pumps 7. The latter are carried by plates 55 boltedat 56to the housing 1 and have input shafts 57 carrying the pinion gears15. Hence the nozzle assemblies 2 are rotated at a rate determined bythe pressure and quantity of the cleaning fluid delivered to the nozzlesand drive the pumps 7 at a rate likewise proportional to the quantity ofcleaning fluid dispensed by the apparatus.

The head or housing 1 is, in turn, provided with a hydraulic motor 8and, preferably, carries this motor via a support plate 58 best seen inFIG. 1. The motor 8 has an output shaft 59 rotatable about an axisparallel to the axis 6 and carrying a pinion gear 13 which meshes withthe fixed sun gear 12 bolted at 60 to the fitting 4. Hence, hydraulicpressurization of the motor 8 will drive shaft 9 and cause its gear 13to orbit the angularly fixed gear 12 at a rate determined by thethroughflow of this hydraulic motor. Furthermore, since the gear 12 iscoaxial with members 4 and 11 and is angularly fixed, the motor 8 mustorbit the axis 6 and thereby carries the housing 1, together with thenozzle heads 2, therearound. The transmission 10, like transmissions 9,is a mechanical fixed-ratio transmission.

The hydraulic pump 7 and the hydraulic motor 8 are connected in a fluidcircuit with a reservoir 16, diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1 withthe remainder of the ducts connecting the pumps and motors and mountedupon the head 1. From the pump 7, a discharge line 17 delivers thehigh-pressure fluid to the motor 8 via a throttle valve 20 and athree-way valve 21, the intake of pump 8 being represented at 61. Fromthe three-way valve 21, a further passage 18 extends to a reservoir 16and the latter is also provided with a branch 19 from the outlet side ofmotor 8. The input to the pumps 7 is represented by a line 62 derivingfrom the reservoir 16. In place of a three-way valve 21, however, abypass valve may be provided in shunt across the pump to regulate thenet fluid flow through the motor. It will be apparent that the valves 20and 21 determine the throughflow of the fluid displaced from the pump 7to the motor 8 and, therefore, the transmission ratio between the rotarynozzle assemblies 2 and the rotary housing 1 and through thistransmission ratio is in finitely adjustable. The speed of the nozzlesassemblies, however, is determined by the rate at which the cleaningfluid is ejected from the nozzles.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for the cleaning of containers, conduits and the likecomprising:

conduit means connected to a source of a cleaning liquid under pressure;

a head mounted on said conduits for rotation about a first axis;

at least one nozzle assembly mounted on said head for rotation about asecond axis generally perpendicular to said first axis and having atleast one nozzle directed tangentially for rotation of the nozzleassembly about said second axis with ejection of a jet of said liquidfrom said nozzle;

passage means in said head and said assembly communicating between saidconduit means and said nozzle for delivering said liquid to the latter;

a hydraulic pump mounted on said head and driven by said assembly fordispensing a hydraulic medium;

a hydraulic motor having an output shaft;

means mechanically connecting said head with said shaft for rotatingsaid head about said first axis; and

duct means connecting said pump with said motor for delivering saidmedium to the latter for positively driving said motor at apredetermined ratio with respect to said pump.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said duct means includes atleast one valve for controlling the flow of fluid between said pump andsaid motor and thereby establishing the transmission ratio between saidassembly and said head.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein a respective mechanicalfixed-ratio transmission is connected with said pump and with saidmotor.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said duct means includes areservoir carried by said head for supplying said medium to said pumpand means for splitting the flow of said medium from said pump betweensaid reservoir and said motor.

5. Theapparatus defined in claim 4 wherein the lastmentioned meansincludes a three-way valve.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said head is provided with acentral passage along said first axis and said conduit means includes atube rotatably mounting said head and communicating with said passage, apair of oppositely extending generally radial tubular bosses formedwith'bores communicating with said passage and extending along saidsecond axis and means for securing said motor to said head, said motorhaving a shaft rotatable about an axis offset from but parallel to saidfirst axis; said apparatus comprising two such nozzle assemblies, eachof said assemblies having a hub rotatably mounted upon a respective oneof said bosses and defining an annular compartment communicating withthe respective bore, a plurality of outwardly extending pipescommunicating with the respective compartment, and nozzles formed at theends of each of said pipes directed rearwardly with respect to the senseof rotation of the respective assembly, the mechanical transmissionconnected with said pump including a gear coupled with said assembly andentrained thereby about said second axis and a pinion meshing with saidgear and connected with said pump; said transmission connected with saidmotor including a gear fixed to said conduit means and centered uponsaid first axis, and a pinion mounted upon said motor shaft and meshingwith the gear fixed to said conduit means; and said duct means includingrespective ducts connecting the fluid outlet of said motor and saidthree-way valve with said reservoir.

7. An apparatus for the cleaning of containers, conat least one nozzleassembly mounted on said head for rotation about a second axis generallyperpendicular to said first axis and having at least one nozzle directedtangentially for rotation of the nozzle about said second axis withejection of a jet of said liquid from said nozzle;

passage means in said head and said assembly communicating between saidconduit means and said nozzle for delivering said liquid to the latter;a hydraulic pump mounted on said head and driven by said assembly fordispensing a hydraulic medium;

a hydraulic motor operatively connected with said head for rotating sameabout said first axis; duct means connecting said pump with said motorfor delivering said medium to the latter, said duct means including atleast one valve for controlling the flow of fluid between said pump andsaid motor and thereby estabishing the transmission ratio between saidassembly and said head, and a respective mechanical fixed-ratiotransmission connected with said pump and with said motor, said ductmeans including a reservoir carried by said head for supplying saidmedium to said pump and a three-way valve for, splitting the flow ofsaid medium from said pump between said reservoir and said motor. 8. Theapparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said head is provided with acentral passage along said first axis and said conduit means includes atube rotatably mounting said head and communicating with said passage, apair of oppositely extending generally radial tubular bosses formed withbores communicating with said passage and extending along said secondaxis and means for securing said motor to said head, said motor having ashaft rotatable about an axis offset from but parallel to said firstaxis, said apparatus comprising two such nozzle assemblies, each of saidassemblies having a hub rotatably mounted upon a respective one of saidbosses and defining an annular compartment communicating with therespective bore, a plurality of outwardly extending pipes communicatingwith the respective compartment, and nozzles formed at the ends of eachof said pipes directed rearwardly with respect to the sense of rotationof the respective assembly, the mechanical transmission connected withsaid pumpincluding a gear coupled with said assembly and entrainedthereby about said second axis and a pinion meshing with said gear andconnected with said pump; said transmission connected with said motorincluding a gear fixed to said conduit means and centered upon saidfirst axis, and a pinion mounted upon said motor shaft and meshing withthe fear fixed to said conduit means; and said'duct means includingrespective ducts connecting the fluid outlet of said motor and saidthree-way valve with said reservoir.

1. An apparatus for the cleaning of containers, conduits and the likecomprising: conduit means connected to a source of a cleaning liquidunder pressure; a head mounted on said conduits for rotation about afirst axis; at least one nozzle assembly mounted on said head forrotation about a second axis generally perpendicular to said first axisand having at least one nozzle directed tangentially for rotation of thenozzle assembly about said second axis with ejection of a jet of saidliquid from said nozzle; passage means in said head and said assemblycommunicating between said conduit means and said nozzle for deliveringsaid liquid to the latter; a hydraulic pump mounted on said head anddriven by said assembly for dispensing a hydraulic medium; a hydraulicmotor having an output shaft; means mechanically connecting said headwith said shaft for rotating said head about said first axis; and ductmeans connecting said pump with said motor for delivering said medium tothe latter for positively driving said motor at a predetermined ratiowith respect to said pump.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 whereinsaid duct means includes at least one valve for controlling the flow offluid between said pump and said motor and thereby establishing thetransmission ratio between said assembly and said head.
 3. The apparatusdefined in claim 2, wherein a respective mechanical fixed-ratiotransmission is connected with said pump and with said motor.
 4. Theapparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said duct means includes areservoir carried by said head for supplying said medium to said pumpand means for splitting the flow of said medium from said pump betweensaid reservoir and said motor.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 4wherein the last-mentioned means includes a three-way valve.
 6. Theapparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said head is provided with acentral passage along said first axis and said conduit means includes atube rotatably mounting said head and communicating with said passage, apair of oppositely extending generally radial tubular bosses formed withbores communicating with said passage and extending along said secondaxis and means for securing said motor to said head, said motor having ashaft rotatable about an axis offset from but parallel to said firstaxis; said apparatus comprising two such nozzle assemblies, each of saidassemblies having a hub rotatably mounted upon a respective one of saidbosses and defining an annular compartment communicating with therespective bore, a plurality of outwardly extending pipes communicatingwith the respective compartment, and nozzles formed at the ends of eachof said pipes directed rearwardly with respect to the sense of rotationof the respective assembly, the mechanical transmission connected withsaid pump including a gear coupled with said assembly and entrainedthereby about said second axis and a pinion meshing with said gear andconnected with said pump; said transmission connected with said motorincluding a gear fixed to said conduit means and centered upon saidfirst axis, and a pinion mounted upon said motor shaft and meshing withthe gear fixed to said conduit means; and said duct means includingrespective ducts connecting the fluid outlet of said motor and saidthree-way valve with said reservoir.
 7. An apparatus for the cleaning ofcontainers, conduits and the like comprising: conduit means connected toa source of a cleaning liquid under pressure; a head mounted on saidconduits for rotation about a first axis; at least one nozzle assemblymounted on said head for rotation about a second axis generallyperpendicular to said first axis and having at least one nozzle directedtangEntially for rotation of the nozzle about said second axis withejection of a jet of said liquid from said nozzle; passage means in saidhead and said assembly communicating between said conduit means and saidnozzle for delivering said liquid to the latter; a hydraulic pumpmounted on said head and driven by said assembly for dispensing ahydraulic medium; a hydraulic motor operatively connected with said headfor rotating same about said first axis; duct means connecting said pumpwith said motor for delivering said medium to the latter, said ductmeans including at least one valve for controlling the flow of fluidbetween said pump and said motor and thereby estabishing thetransmission ratio between said assembly and said head, and a respectivemechanical fixed-ratio transmission connected with said pump and withsaid motor, said duct means including a reservoir carried by said headfor supplying said medium to said pump and a three-way valve forsplitting the flow of said medium from said pump between said reservoirand said motor.
 8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said head isprovided with a central passage along said first axis and said conduitmeans includes a tube rotatably mounting said head and communicatingwith said passage, a pair of oppositely extending generally radialtubular bosses formed with bores communicating with said passage andextending along said second axis and means for securing said motor tosaid head, said motor having a shaft rotatable about an axis offset frombut parallel to said first axis, said apparatus comprising two suchnozzle assemblies, each of said assemblies having a hub rotatablymounted upon a respective one of said bosses and defining an annularcompartment communicating with the respective bore, a plurality ofoutwardly extending pipes communicating with the respective compartment,and nozzles formed at the ends of each of said pipes directed rearwardlywith respect to the sense of rotation of the respective assembly, themechanical transmission connected with said pump including a gearcoupled with said assembly and entrained thereby about said second axisand a pinion meshing with said gear and connected with said pump; saidtransmission connected with said motor including a gear fixed to saidconduit means and centered upon said first axis, and a pinion mountedupon said motor shaft and meshing with the fear fixed to said conduitmeans; and said duct means including respective ducts connecting thefluid outlet of said motor and said three-way valve with said reservoir.